Treatment apparatus for applying electrical impulses to the body of a patient

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a treatment device ( 10 ) for applying electrical impulses to a living body through the skin, for treating a variety of clinical conditions. The device comprises a pair of electrodes ( 32 ) for contact with the skin, and a waveform generator ( 46 ) for repeatedly generating an AC waveform for applying electrical impulses through the electrodes to the skin. A detector ( 50 ) detects changes in the skin impedance and generates detector output signals representing the skin impedance. Means ( 52 ) responsive to the detector output signals for monitor the responsivity of the skin, and indicator means ( 36, 58 ) activated by the monitoring means generate a first indication when a predetermined level of responsivity is reached and a second indication when a predetermined treatment has been administered.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is the U.S. national stage application ofInternational Application PCT/GB2004/004552, filed Oct. 28, 2004, whichinternational application was published on Dec. 15, 2005 asInternational Publication WO 2005/118061. The International Applicationclaims priority of British Patent Application 0412070.5, filed May 28,2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to treatment apparatus for applying electricalimpulses to a living body through the skin for treating a variety ofclinical conditions.

In particular, in its preferred form at least, the invention relates toa handheld treatment device, and to a treatment apparatus and treatmentsystem including such a device, in which the device makes physicalcontact with the skin and a repeatedly generated AC waveform is suppliedto the electrodes for application at the surface of the skin and formonitoring changes in the skin impedance.

It is known to treat animals and humans by the use of electromagneticradiation. However, such treatment apparatus is generally cumbersome andexpensive to manufacture and run, and usually only has application incertain specific clinical conditions. Furthermore, treatment is oftencostly and success rates may be low.

It is also known to employ handheld scanning devices usingelectromagnetic radiation for assistance in the development oftreatments for animals and humans. However, these devices again tend tobe limited in their application.

There is therefore a need for more inexpensive, portable equipment thatis both flexible and easy to use and that is capable of treating a widevariety of clinical conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a new treatment device, which iseffective and easy to use and which has a wide range of clinicalapplications.

In its preferred form at least, the invention also seeks to provide ahandheld device for the treatment of a wide variety of clinicalindications.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a treatment method,device and apparatus, which are non-invasive and which demonstratebenefits in the treatment of a variety of clinical conditions with fewharmful side effects.

In brief, the present invention concerns a treatment device, apparatus,system and method for applying electrical impulses of relatively highamplitude and short duration to the body of an animal or patient throughthe skin for stimulating repair processes within the body.

The invention, at least in its preferred form described below, dependson using alternating current electrostimulation via a biofeedback systembased on reaction to skin impedance. The impulses from the device arepreferably of short duration (10 μs approx) and of relatively highamplitude (80 v). The influence is critically controlled by carefulobservation using specific measured parameters of the impulses depictedon the device screen. Due to the short duration of impulse the energy ofthe signal is extremely small and harmful effects highly unlikely.

The equipment is able to detect the zones of lowest skin impedance in an‘area of possibility’ (between two concentric rectangular electrodes)and to denote these by numerical readout. Dialogue is initiated throughthe low resistance points of the skin and guided by observation of thisdialogue by a trained practitioner.

Via nerve endings the afferent impulses from the device enter thecentral nervous system (CNS) at the anterior horns of the spinal cord.Both myelinated and unmyelinated nerves are stimulated by the impulses.By numerical supremacy the majority of the dialogue takes place via thec-fibres. Impulses are conducted up the dorsal and ventral spinothalamictracts, the dorsal and ventral spino cerebellar tracts and the spinotectal tracts. There is a contribution via the reticulo-cerebellarfibres and the pontine tegmentum. Some of the facilitatory effects ofthe electrostimulatory system are believed to be mediated by this partof the reticular formation. Continuation of the reticular formationcommunications beyond the brain stem to the cortex with associatedinfluence on cortical responses is also anticipated. Efferent signalsdescend via the corticospinal tracts. Frequently, more than onesegmental levels are influenced simultaneously.

Electrostimulatory influences have small local effects in the form ofpolarisation of molecules and local vasomotor effects; with somepossible influence on the graded potentials locally. Mediation of localinfluences is via neuropeptide release.

The majority of the beneficial influence is via efferent nerves from theCNS. At a segmental level, there is also sometimes influence on painpathways via the saturation of transmitter at the site of entry into thelateral spinothalamic tract, particularly if there is marked A fibreinvolvement.

Electrostimulation signals act on both local reflex arcs (alsoinfluencing the sympathetic chain) with their concomitant effects oninternal organ, vessels and muscles; as well as entering the CNS via theascending tracts for higher connections which will lead to generalneuropeptide release (with resultant effect on general homoeostasis),endocrine release, parasympathetic influence and efferent signals downthe corticospinal tracts to the relevant levels. Processes of diseasecontrol and pain with this form of electrostimulation are mainlymediated via the descending impulses in the CNS to an appropriate levelfor subsequent peripheral ‘local’ neuropeptide release. Furthermediation is influenced through the autonomic nervous system both vialocal effects and general physiology.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided ahandheld treatment device for applying electrical impulses to a livingbody through the skin, for treating a variety of clinical conditions,comprising: a pair of electrodes for contact with the skin; a waveformgenerator for repeatedly generating an AC waveform for applyingelectrical impulses through the electrodes to the skin; a detector fordetecting changes in the skin impedance and for generating outputsignals representing the skin impedance; means responsive to the outputsignals from the detector for monitoring the responsivity of the skin;and indicator means for generating a first indication when apredetermined level of responsivity is reached and a second indicationwhen a pre-determined treatment has been administered.

In a preferred embodiment, the skin impedance alterations, which occuras a result of both the local and general state, are depictednumerically on a screen of the treatment device and influence the nextoutgoing signal from the device. Moreover, several other aspects of thesignal exchange between the skin and the treatment device may bedepicted numerically on the screen (amplitude, rate, gradient, speed andso on). Some of these numbers use mathematical algorithms to be able togenerate the best possible use of the electrostimulatory dialogue. Thenumerical representations may then be used by the practitioner to guidethe treatment processes, via a number of protocols. The intention is toguide the locked or disturbed CNS foci into a restorative state, therebyinitiating or re-stimulating normal repair processes, both centrally andlocally. Due to the strong CNS (vs.local) component of the process ofexchange, ‘old’ foci from previous pathological states can be influencedsimultaneously, leading also to unexpected resolutions of past diseasestates.

In its preferred form, the treatment device is a handheld batterypowered device.

Advantageously, the detection means generates output signals in the formof pulses whose duration represents the skin impedance; the monitoringmeans measures the duration t of each pulse; and the indicating means isarranged to generate each indication when t satisfies a predeterminedfunction of t.

Preferably, the indicating means is arranged to generate the firstindication when t₂=4.087 t₁ ^(0.7131) and to generate the secondindication when dZ/dt=0.

Conveniently, the electrical impulses generated by the handheld deviceare of high initial amplitude and brief duration. The resultingtreatment is non-invasive and is believed to generate few harmful sideeffects. The device has been found during trial to be extremelyeffective in treating a wide variety of clinical indications.

The handheld device according to the invention has a number ofadvantages, including its ease of use and versatility, as well as thefact that the treatment cost is low while the success rate promises tobe relatively high.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedtreatment apparatus for applying electrical impulses to a living bodythrough the skin, for treating a variety of clinical conditions,comprising: a pair of electrodes for contact with the skin; a waveformgenerator for repeatedly generating an AC waveform for applyingelectrical impulses through the electrodes to the skin; means responsiveto a resistance generated between the electrodes due to the skinimpedance for detecting the responsivity of different zones of apre-determined area of the body and for producing output datarepresenting the responsivity of each zone; a store for the output data;and means for selecting a treatment zone from amongst the differentzones based on an evaluation of the output data to select the zone ofgreatest responsivity.

Preferably, the output data from the detecting means is in the form ofnumerical values, and the selecting means evaluates the output data onthe basis of the highest values.

In the preferred embodiment described below, the selecting meanscomprises means for processing the output data contained in the store,and a display operable by the processing means for indicating theselected treatment zone. For example, the display may be arranged todisplay a body map of the pre-determined treatment area with therespective output data being displayed at a plurality of map locationsrepresenting the corresponding zones of the pre-determined area.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a treatment system for the treatment of a living body,comprising: a treatment device for applying electrical impulses to thebody through the skin, the treatment device including a CPU; a PC forstoring patient records; a cradle for the treatment device, the cradlebeing connected to or incorporated as a part of the PC; and means forreceiving a smart card including a unique patient ID and for providingaccess to the patient records associated with the unique patient ID.

Advantageously, the smart card may be arranged to carry a PIN number aswell as the unique patient ID, and the system may include input means bywhich a patient may be requested to supply their PIN number. When amatch occurs between the input PIN number and the PIN number of all theunique patient ID on the smart card, then the system is arranged toenable access between the treatment device and the practitioner's PC.

A further aspect of the invention features a method of treating or ahuman or animal through the skin by means of the present treatmentdevice.

According to this aspect of the invention, there is provided a method oftreating a living body through the skin, comprising the steps of:placing a pair of electrodes in contact with the skin; generating an ACwaveform to supply electrical impulses through the electrodes to theskin; detecting changes in the skin impedance and generating outputsignals representing the skin impedance; monitoring the responsivity ofthe skin; and indicating firstly when a predetermined level ofresponsivity is reached and secondly when a predetermined treatment hasbeen administered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described further, by way of example, with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handheld treatment device according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram representing the nervous system within the humanbody;

FIG. 3 is a diagram representing the transmission of information fromthe central nervous system of the body to the cells of body organs;

FIG. 4 is a diagram demonstrating use of the treatment device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elaboration of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the electrodes of the treatment device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the circuitry within the treatment deviceof FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram showing an output of a waveform generatorin the circuit of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram showing a detail of the output of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a waveform diagram showing the signal generated at one pointof the circuit of FIG. 6 when the device is not in use but a load isconnected across the electrodes to simulate skin contact;

FIG. 11 is a signal diagram showing the signals generated at variouspoints of the circuit of FIG. 7 when the treatment device is in use;

FIG. 12 is a waveform diagram showing how the signal at the electrodesof the treatment device varies in use as skin impedance changes;

FIG. 13 is a waveform diagram corresponding to that of FIG. 12 andshowing the waveform at the electrodes at three different timeintervals;

FIG. 14 is a graph representing the changes of skin impedance with time;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are representations of body treatment maps, which aredeveloped during treatment and displayed on a display of the treatmentdevice;

FIGS. 17 to 20 are flow charts representing software processing by a CPUof the treatment device shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a treatment system incorporating thetreatment device of FIGS. 1 to 20;

FIGS. 22 and 23 are data flow diagrams representing use of the treatmentsystem of FIG. 21; and

FIG. 24 is a flowchart representing software processing by the CPU ofthe treatment device in the application of the device in the treatmentsystem of FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 to 5, the present invention comprises ahandheld treatment device 10 for applying electrical impulses to a humanor animal body through the skin. For the purposes of the presentdescription, the treatment of a human being will be described. Thetreatment device 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is designed to beplaced in contact with the skin and to generate short AC electricalimpulses for application to the skin by way of electrodes (describedbelow).

Referring now to FIG. 2, the body's maintenance system is derived fromthe embryological layer known as the neuro-ectoderm. The skin, thenervous system of the body and the spinal cord are all derived from thisembryological layer and consequently are all in mutual communication.FIG. 2 shows how a network of nerve fibres 12 connect the skin 14 tovarious organs 16 of the body and to the spinal cord 18 with its centralnervous system and its connection to the brain 20. Information from thecontrol centre 22 of the central nervous system controls the release ofspecific neuro peptides 24 at the nerve endings, which in turn controlsthe replacement, structure and behaviour of cells 26 within the bodyorgans 16 as indicated in FIG. 3. The network 12 of nerve fibres alsocontrols the transmission of information between the skin 14 and thecentral nervous system, and abnormalities in the body are reflected viathis network 12 in changes in the impedance of the skin 14.

FIGS. 4 and 5 indicate how the application of the AC electrical impulsesfrom the treatment device 10 at carefully selected locations of the skin14 may transmit information via a communication pathway 28 through thenerve network 12 to the control centre 22 of the central nervous systemand stimulate this control centre into triggering neuro peptide releasefor activating repair processes in the organs 16. Changes in skinimpedance ensue and can be detected by the treatment device 10. Thus, adialogue between the device 10 and the control centre 22 of the centralnervous system, via the skin 14 and the nerve network 12, is initiatedand can be employed to trigger repair and to monitor the treatmentprocess and its effects. The treatment is non-invasive and only verysmall amounts of energy are applied to the body and hence harmfuleffects are highly unlikely.

The device itself will now be described further with reference to FIGS.1, 6 and 7.

The treatment device 10 comprises a body 30 having a pair of electrodes32 at one end and having on its back an on or off switch 34, a display36 and a series of user control buttons 38. Four such buttons are shownin FIG. 1, but there may be any number depending on the number ofdifferent functions that may be controlled by the user.

The electrodes 32 have a very specific form designed primarily to ensureskin contact whether the skin is bare or is covered by hair or fur. Moreparticularly, the electrodes are designed as a series of five parallelcombs, in which the two outermost combs 32 a constitute one electrode;the central comb 32 b constitutes the other electrode, and the remainingtwo combs 32 c flanking the central comb 32 b are insulating elements.The electrodes 32 a and 32 b are therefore formed from a conductivematerial, while the combs 32 c are formed from an insulating material.The dimensions of the combs are, however, identical, and each combcomprises a series of teeth arranged approximately 2.5 mm apart andhaving a length of approximately 2 mm.

The electrical circuitry within the treatment device 10 is shown in FIG.7 and is controlled by the on/off switch 34 and powered by a battery 40for applying AC electrical impulses to the electrodes 32.

As shown, a central processing unit (CPU) 42 including a clock 44 isarranged to generate an output at point A of FIG. 7 in the form of atrain of rectangular pulses. Such pulses are supplied to a waveformgenerator 46 for triggering an output from the generator at point B ofthe circuit. The output of the waveform generator 46 is an AC decayingoscillation, which is repeatedly triggered by the pulses from the CPU 42and which is applied to one of the electrodes 32. A voltage signal isgenerated across the electrodes 32, effectively at point C in FIG. 7,whose magnitude is dependent on whether the electrodes are in opencircuit or whether they are in contact with the skin and are responsiveto the skin impedance (represented as a resistor 48). This voltagesignal is applied to a comparator 50, where it is compared with athreshold voltage output by the CPU 42. The comparator 50 generates apulse output at point D of the circuit, in which the rising edge of eachpulse corresponds with the voltage from the electrodes 32 increasingabove the threshold level and the trailing edge of each pulsecorresponds with the voltage from the electrodes 32 falling below thethreshold level. A counter 52 within the CPU 42 also connected to theclock 44 counts the clock signal for the duration of each such pulse andthereby produces a numerical value representing the pulse duration.These numerical values are transmitted by way of a memory bus 54 to amemory or store 56.

The user control keys 38 can be employed for providing inputs to the CPU42 to cause the CPU 42 to adjust the frequency, duration, and amplitudeof the pulses supplied to the waveform generator 46 and to determinewhether these pulses are supplied at regular intervals, or repeatedly inclusters. The waveform generator 46 is arranged to respond accordinglyfor supplying a corresponding AC waveform to the electrodes 32, and inthis way the electrical impulses applied to the skin can be adjusted andtreatment can be controlled. The CPU 42 processes the informationobtained during a treatment session and displays the results on thedisplay 36 as well as storing them in the memory 56. The CPU 42 is alsoarranged to activate one or more audio indicators 58 for signallingcertain events in the treatment session.

In addition, a series connection of a switch 60 and a load 62 isconnected across the two electrodes 32 and may be switched into thecircuit in response to an output from the CPU 42, either in order tosimulate skin contact when the electrodes 32 are not in contact with theskin of a patient or to provide a filter in cases of high skinsensitivity.

The signals at the various points of the circuit of FIG. 7 and invarious circumstances are shown in FIGS. 8 to 13.

FIG. 8 shows the rectangular pulse signal output by the CPU 42 andgenerated at the point A of the circuit, together with the correspondingrepeated AC waveform output by the waveform generator 46 at point B ofthe circuit. A single cycle of the AC waveform at point B is shown inFIG. 9, and has an initial amplitude V_(peak), a half wavelength t₁ anda decay t_(decay). The amplitude V_(peak) is dependent on the pulsewidth of the pulse signal at point A, which can be set by one of thecontrol keys 38 according to a strength setting in a range from 1 to250. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the strength setting is set to 20and V_(peak) is 230 volts. t₁ in this example is 40 microseconds andt_(decay), to the point where the voltage has decayed to about 10% ofV_(peak), is 1.15 milliseconds.

The repetition rate of the AC waveform output by the waveform generator46, as shown in FIG. 8, is determined by and corresponds with thefrequency of the pulse signal at the point A and is set by the user fromone of the control keys 38. The repetition rate is preferably adjustablefrom 50 Hz to 351 Hz. A further one of the control keys 38 sets whetherthe pulses output by the CPU 42 at the point A are generated at regularintervals or in clusters according to the intensity of the treatmentrequired. The intensity of treatment can be set in a range from 1 to 8,representing the number of pulses, i.e. from 1 to 8, in each cluster. Anintensity of 1 thus represents a series of pulses occurring at regularintervals, while an intensity of 8 represents clusters of 8 pulses at atime. The spacing between the individual pulses, or clusters of pulses,at the point A corresponds to the overall cycle time t_(repeat) of eachindividual AC waveform, or cluster of waveforms, in the repeated cyclegenerated at the point B of the circuit and is also controlled by one ofthe user keys 38. This pulse spacing is defined as the gap in treatmentapplications, and the gap can be adjusted within the range from 10 to 80corresponding to a spacing t_(repeat) in a range from 220 microsecondsto 1,600 microseconds.

By switching the load 62 into the circuit, the AC waveform output by thewaveform generator 46 at the point B generates a waveform across theload 62 at the point E in FIG. 7. The waveform at the point E is amodification of the signal at the point B, in which the half wavelengtht₁ is extended.

The signals described thus far effectively represent a situation wherethe treatment device 10 is not in contact with the skin and where thedevice remains unaffected by skin impedance. The signals arising in useof the device are shown in FIG. 11, which represents the eventstriggered by one pulse from the pulse signal at the point A and henceone full cycle of the AC waveform at the point B. As shown, the effectof the skin impedance results in a signal generated at the point C ofFIG. 7, which is an AC waveform having an extended half wavelength t₁and a fewer number of voltage peaks by comparison with the AC waveformat the point B. This signal at the point C is supplied to the comparator50 where it is compared with a threshold voltage V_(th). On eachoccasion that the signal at the point C increases above the thresholdvoltage the comparator 50 triggers the leading edge of a new pulse, andon each occasion that the signal at the point C falls below thethreshold V_(th) the comparator generates the trailing edge of a pulse.The pulse output of the comparator 50 at the point D of FIG. 7 is shownin FIG. 11.

It has been found that, as treatment continues, the skin impedance fallsand consequently the signal at the point C becomes increasinglyextended. This is illustrated in FIG. 12 where an initial responsesignal at the point C is represented by the line V₁ having a halfwavelength t₁, and a subsequent response signal at the point C isrepresented by the line V₂ having a half wavelength t₂. It is evidentthat t₁ is less than t₂. Eventually, the response signal at the point Cwill have a half wavelength to, in which the threshold voltage is notexceeded at all.

This situation is represented in FIG. 13, which shows how the signal atthe point C adapts as a treatment application progresses. Here, theinitial skin impedance on first application of the AC waveform output bythe waveform generator 46 at the point B is represented by the firstsignal in FIG. 13 and the half wavelength t₁; a subsequent applicationof the AC waveform at the point B is represented by the second signal inFIG. 13 and a half wavelength t₂; and a later application of the ACwaveform at the point B is represented by the third signal and a halfwavelength t₀.

The graph in FIG. 14 represents the change of skin impedance with timefor one specific zone only of a given area of the body. By monitoringthis change, the CPU 42 can deduce how the patient is responding to theapplication of the electrical impulses. The time that it takes to reachthe point X on the graph represents the responsivity of the skin of thisparticular body zone. Point X has been selected empirically to be thepoint, which satisfies the following equation:t₂=4.087t₁ ^(0.7131)

The point Y on the graph represents the point at which the rate ofchange of skin impedance Z with time t is zero, i.e.:dZ/dt=0

At the point Y, a standard treatment may be considered to have beenadministered. Referring back to FIG. 13, the second signal having thehalf wavelength t₂ corresponds to the point X in FIG. 14, and the thirdsignal having the half wavelength to corresponds to the point Y on thegraph in FIG. 14.

In order to obtain a measurement corresponding to skin impedance,ideally the peak voltage values of each of the signals in FIG. 13 wouldbe measured. However, it has been found more practical to measure theduration t of each initial half wave, and for this purpose thecomparator 50 generates pulses in response to the crossings of thethreshold voltage V_(th) and the counter 52 counts to a numerical valuedetermined in each instance by the generation of each pulse in thesignal at the point D. These numerical count values are displayed on thedisplay 36 of the device 10 under the control of the CPU 42.

Referring to FIG. 1, the initial reading for the count valuecorresponding to the half wavelength t₁ for the first signal in FIG. 13occurring at the start of a treatment application is shown at thedisplay location 36 a at the top left hand corner of the display 36; thecontinually varying count value representing the half wavelength t as itchanges during a treatment application is shown in the display location36 b in the lower left hand corner of the display 36, and a furthercount value representing the change of skin impedance with time, i.e.dZ/dt, and derived from counting the rate at which t changes isdisplayed at the display location 36 c on the display 36. At the momentwhen the point X is reached on the graph in FIG. 14, the CPU 42 isarranged to trigger the audio indicator 58 to ring a bell. At the sametime, the CPU 42 stops the counter 52 and the count value at the displaylocation 36 b is fixed and is stored in the memory 56. At the moment atwhich the point Y on the graph in FIG. 14 is reached, as represented bythe value at the display location 36 c showing zero, the CPU 42 isarranged firstly to trigger the audio indicator 58 to sound a buzzer andsecondly to terminate generation of the pulse signal A.

The most basic operation of the handheld treatment device 10 will now bedescribed.

Firstly, the physician switches the device on by means of the on/offswitch 34 and sets the desired treatment strength and repetition rate bymeans of the control buttons 38. If desired, the physician also sets thedesired treatment intensity and treatment gap by means of the controlbuttons 38, and decides whether or not to apply the filter provided bythe load 62 and, if so, sets this with a further control key 38.

Next, the physician selects an area of the body for treatment andapplies the electrical impulses to different body zones within thisarea. A number of initial readings will thus be generated and stored inthe memory 56, and from the readings on the display location 36 a thephysician will select a number of zones with relatively high initialreadings, representing a relatively high skin impedance, and will applya treatment dose until the audio indicator 58 rings the bell. A newseries of readings displayed at the display location 36 b is thusgenerated and stored in the memory 56. The physician now selects thehighest of this second series of readings and applies a further set ofelectrical impulses until the audio indicator 58 sounds the buzzer. Atthis moment, a final reading is obtained as shown at the displaylocation 36 b corresponding to a zero at the display location 36 c, andthis final reading is also stored in the memory 56.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the physician will inpractice follow a precise treatment plan under the guidance of the CPU42, and the display 36 will be arranged to alternate under the controlof the CPU 42 between the display shown in FIG. 1 and one of thedisplays shown respectively in FIGS. 15 and 16. Such a treatment planwill now be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16 and the flowcharts of FIGS. 17 to 20.

Referring firstly to FIGS. 15 and 16, these show two treatment maps 60and 62 respectively. The map 60 represents the treatment of the back ofa patient, and the map 62 represents the treatment of a face of thepatient. In the preferred embodiment, the display 36 of the treatmentdevice 10 is arranged to alternate between the display shown in FIG. 1and described above and a display showing one of the two maps 60 or 62.This alternation takes place either automatically under the control ofthe CPU 42 following the production of each new skin impedance reading.Alternatively, it is possible for the display to alternate between thetwo visual outputs on a timed basis or in response to user activation ofa further control button 38. A further possibility is for the treatmentdevice 10 to be connected to a PC during treatment, either by way of aphysical connection line or by way of a wireless connection such as aninfrared or bluetooth link, and to display the display of FIG. 1 on thedevice and the maps 60 and 62 on the screen of the PC.

In any event, each treatment map 60 and 62 comprises an outline 64representing the predetermined area of the body being treated, the backin the case of FIG. 15 and the face in the case of FIG. 16. Within theoutline 64 a series of map locations 66 are designated, eachrepresenting a different zone of the body area in question. The two mapsshown in FIGS. 15 and 16 represent a completed treatment and thereforeeach map location contains one or more count values representing theskin impedance of the associated zone of the relevant body area.However, at the start of treatment, each map 60 and 62 will comprisesimply the outline 64 and the series of designated positions.

The generation of the maps shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 during a treatmentsession will now be described with reference to the software steps shownin FIGS. 17 to 20.

It is assumed in the following description that treatment will startwith the back of the patient. Treatment commences at step 100 in FIG. 17with switching on the treatment device 10 by means of the on/off switch34. Treatment of the back then commences with the sub routinerepresented in step 102 and shown in detail in FIG. 18, in which aseries of readings are taken successively from the neck down the centreof the back following the line of the spine, represented by the line 68in FIG. 15.

This sub routine 102 commences at step 200 in FIG. 18 when the treatmentdevice 10 is placed on skin zone 1 at the top of the spine and a readingis taken. This reading yields the count value 24 from the counter 52 inthe CPU 42 and is displayed as a start dynamic value at the displaylocation 36 a on the display 36 in FIG. 1. In step 202, the CPU storesthe count value 24 in the memory 56 and switches the display 36 to themap 60 shown in FIG. 15 and displays the count value 24 at map location1. The software then prompts the physician in step 204 to move thetreatment device 10 to skin zone 2 and take a further reading. Suchprompting may, for example, take the form of a light flashing on thedisplay at the map location 2 corresponding to the skin zone 2. Thephysician takes a further reading and the display 36 reverts to itsoriginal display and displays this further initial reading or startdynamic value at the display location 36 a in FIG. 1. Again, the newstart dynamic value is stored in the memory 56 and the map 60 is broughtup on the display with the count value 26 now shown in map location 2.This is represented in step 206.

In step 208, the software checks whether the count value at map location1 is four or more higher than the count value at map location 2. If yes,the physician is prompted to move the treatment device 10 back to skinzone 1 and apply a treatment dose in step 210. A treatment dose is aseries of electrical impulses applied until the position X is reached onthe graph shown in FIG. 14 and until the audio indicator 58 rings thebell. The treatment dose given in step 210 will generate a correspondingcount value in display location 36 b on the display 36. The CPU 42stores this dose count value in the memory 56 in step 212 and, revertingto the map 60, displays the dose value against map location 1. The dosevalue is indicated by a “star” on the map 60. On the other hand, if theanswer to the question posed in step 208 is no, the software proceeds tostep 214 and checks whether the value at map location 2 is four or morehigher than the value at map location 1. If yes, the physician isprompted to maintain the treatment device 10 at skin zone 2 and to applya treatment dose here in step 216. Once again, this generates a dosecount value in the display location 36 b in FIG. 1, and in step 218 theCPU 42 stores this dose count value in the memory 56 and, reverting tothe treatment map 60, displays the dose count value in map location 2.

The software then proceeds from the relevant one of steps 212, 214 and218 to step 220 in which the CPU 42 registers that the next skin zone tobe treated is skin zone N, which is equivalent to skin zone 3. Thedevice prompts the physician to move the treatment device 10 in step 222to skin zone N, i.e. in this instance skin zone 3, and take a furtherreading. A new start dynamic count value is generated and in step 224this is stored in the memory 56 and is displayed on the map 60 at maplocation N, which is at the third position in this instance. As shown inthe specific example of FIG. 15, the start dynamic value at map location3 is 32. In step 226, the software checks whether the start dynamicvalue at map location N (N=3) is four or more higher than the startdynamic values at the previous map locations. If yes, the physician isprompted to maintain the treatment device 10 at body zone 3 and to applya treatment dose until the audio indicator 58 rings the bell. This isstep 228. When the bell has rung and the dose count value is displayedat display location 36 b on the display 36 in FIG. 1, the CPU stores thedose count value in the memory 56 and displays the value at map locationN (N=3) in step 230.

Referring to FIG. 15, it will be seen that the specific exampleillustrated has a start dynamic count value of 32 in map location 3 andthat this is the first occasion on which a value sufficiently high toprompt a treatment dose has been reached. The dose count value in thisinstance is shown to be 47.

In the case where the value at location N is not four or more higherthan the previous highest start dynamic count value, the treatmentprocess proceeds from step 226 directly to step 232 where the CPU 42checks whether the final map location has been reached in the spineseries. If no, the CPU 42 increments N by 1 in step 234 and returns tostep 222. If yes, the CPU prompts the physician in step 236 to remain atskin zone N and apply a treatment dose. The dose count value is storedin step 238 in the memory 56 and is displayed on the treatment map 60.Referring to FIG. 15, the final location N is in fact shown abovelocation 1 and represents the neck of the patient. The start dynamiccount value here in this example is 28 and the dose count value is 45.This finishes the series of readings generated in the sub routine ofstep 102 and the CPU 42 returns to step 104 in FIG. 17.

In step 104, the software reviews the dose count values from the spineseries and selects the one that has the highest value. The softwareprompts the physician in step 106 to move the treatment device to therelevant skin zone and to administer a full treatment. In this step, thephysician holds the treatment device 10 at the relevant skin zone andapplies electrical impulses until the point Y is reached in the graph inFIG. 14, i.e. until a value of zero representing dZ/dt is displayed atdisplay location 36 c of the display 36 in FIG. 1 and the audioindicator 58 sounds the buzzer. The reading at display location 36 b atthis moment is stored in step 108 in the memory 56 and is displayed onthe map 60 at the relevant map location. In the example shown in FIG.15, the full treatment is applied at body zone 5, represented by maplocation 5 on the map 60 and the full treatment value is shown as 120.

Having now completed a series of treatment applications along the spineof the patient, the treatment moves to the sub routine represented instep 110 and shown in FIG. 19 and readings are taken down the twoparavertebral lines 70 and 72 flanking the spine.

The sub routine 110 commences at step 300, in which the device promptsthe physician to place the treatment device 10 on skin zone N1=1, whichis at the top of paravertebral line 70. The physician initiates theelectrical impulses and a start dynamic count value for this skin zoneis generated. In step 302, the software stores the new start dynamiccount value in the memory 56 and displays the value at map location N1corresponding to skin zone N1. In the example shown in FIG. 15, thestart dynamic count value here is 31. In step 304, the software promptsthe physician to move the treatment device 10 by one space down toposition N1+1, and there another start dynamic count value is generated.This start dynamic count value is stored in the memory 56 and is thendisplayed at map location N1+1 of the map 60 in step 306. The softwarenow considers in step 308 whether the start dynamic count value for bodyzone N1 is four or more higher than that for body zone N1+1. If yes, thesoftware prompts the physician in step 310 to return to body zone N1 andapply a treatment dose. The dose count value thus generated is stored inthe memory 56 and is displayed at map location N1 in step 312. If theanswer to step 308 is no, however, the software proceeds to step 314 andenquires whether the start dynamic count value at body zone N1+1 is fouror more higher than that at body zone N1. If yes, the software promptsthe physician in step 316 to hold the treatment device 10 at body zoneN1+1 and apply a treatment dose. The dose count value thus generated isstored in the memory 56 displayed at map location N1+1 in step 318.

Following step 312 or step 318, as appropriate, the software proceeds tostep 320 where N1 is again incremented by 1 and prompts the physician instep 322 to move to the new body zone N1+2 and take a reading. The startdynamic count value thus generated is stored in the memory 56 and isdisplayed at map location N1+2 in step 324. In step 326, the softwareenquires whether the value and map location N1+2 is four or more higherthan the highest previous start dynamic count value. If yes, thesoftware prompts the physician in step 328 to remain at body zone N1+2and apply a treatment dose. The dose count value thus generated isstored in the memory 56 and displayed at map location N1+2 in step 330.The software now proceeds to step 332. On the other hand, if the outcomeof the enquiry in step 326 is no, the software proceeds immediately tostep 332. Here the software enquires whether the last position of thelines 70 and 72 on the map 60 has been reached. If no, the softwareproceeds to step 334, increments N1 by another 1 and reverts to step322. If yes, the software proceeds to step 336 and prompts the physicianto remain at the final position and apply a treatment dose. The dosecount value thus generated is stored in the memory 56 and displayed onthe map 60 at the final position in step 338.

In the example shown in FIG. 15, the readings are first takenincrementally down the paravertebral line 70 finishing at the top ofthis line with a reading taken from the neck, and they then proceed downthe paravertebral line 72 with the final position again being at the topof this line at the neck of the patient. This completes the sub routineof step 110.

The software now proceeds to step 112 in which it scans the dose countvalues from both paravertebral lines 70 and 72 and selects the one whichis the highest. In step 114, the software prompts the physician to movethe treatment device 10 to the corresponding skin zone and to apply afull treatment until the rate of change of skin impedance with timereaches zero. The treatment count value thus generated is stored in thememory 56 and displayed at the associated map location in step 116.

Referring to the example shown in FIG. 15, it will be seen that thehighest dose count value for the two paravertebral lines 70 and 72 is atthe fifth map location in line 70, being the value 65. At this maplocation, the further treatment value 98 obtained in step 116 is alsodisplayed.

The software now proceeds to step 118 and scans the treatment countvalues in the whole of the map 60 and selects the one with the highestvalue. In step 120, the software prompts the physician to move thetreatment device 10 to the associated body zone and to apply a furthertreatment, designated an FM treatment, for a period of two minutes. Withreference to the example shown in FIG. 15, the highest treatment countvalue is at the fifth position of the spinal series of readings and is120. The FM treatment in this instance is applied at the body zonecorresponding to this map location.

During this frequency modulation treatment, the software in the CPU 42generates a pulse output for supply to the waveform generator 46, whichpulse output cycles through a range of frequencies from 15 Hz to 351 Hzwith each successive cycle lasting for a duration of 8 seconds. Theprimary purpose of this further FM treatment is to access additionalcommunication paths in the network 12 of nerves within the body in orderto provide an additional healing stimulus. It is believed that the maintreatment, which has been carried out up until this point, sets up abiofeedback loop along a dominant communication path. This generates themain healing stimulus. However, it is possible that there may also beother associated communication paths, which are either accessory to themain process or are linked to previous pathology. These othercommunication paths may not be addressed by the application of the maintreatment through the biofeedback loop but may instead respond toelectrical impulses applied at different frequencies. Thus, these othercommunication paths may be reached by cycling through the frequencyrange of the activation pulses, and it is for this reason that the finalFM treatment is applied.

In step 122, the count value displayed at display location 36 b on thedisplay 36 in FIG. 1 at the culmination of the FM treatment is stored inthe memory 56 and is displayed at the associated map location in step122.

The software now proceeds to the sub routine represented in step 124 andshown in FIG. 20. This sub routine relates to the treatment of apatient's face and is represented by the map 62 shown in FIG. 16.

The sub routine 124 starts at step 400 in which the software sets thevalue N representing the relevant body zone on the patient's face to thevalue 1. In step 402, the software prompts the physician to move thetreatment device 10 to the position N, i.e. initially the firstposition, and begin treatment. The start dynamic count value thusgenerated is stored in the memory 56 and is displayed at thecorresponding map location on the facial map 62. In the example shown inFIG. 16, the first position is at the bottom left hand of the face andthe corresponding start dynamic count value is 31.

The software proceeds to step 404 and prompts the physician to move thetreatment device 10 to position 2, which is the lower right handposition of the face, and to begin treatment. The start dynamic countvalue for this body zone is stored in the memory 56 and is displayed onthe facial map 62 at the map location 2, being the count value 36 in theexample of FIG. 16. this is step 406. The software now proceeds to step408 and enquires whether the count value for facial zone 1 is four ormore higher than the count value for facial zone 2. If yes, the softwareprompts the physician to return to facial zone 1 and apply a treatmentdose in step 410. The dose count value thus generated is stored in thememory 56 and displayed at map location 1 in step 412.

On the other hand, if the response to the enquiry of step 408 was no,the software proceeds to step 414 and enquires whether the start dynamiccount value is four or more higher at facial zone 2 than at facial zone1. If yes, the software prompts the physician in step 416 to remain atfacial zone 2 and apply a treatment dose. The dose count value thusgenerated in stored in the memory 56 and displayed at map location 2 instep 418. In the example shown in FIG. 16, the start dynamic count valueat map location 2 is 36 which fulfils the enquiry at step 414, and acorresponding dose count value of 51 is displayed. The software thenproceeds from step 418 to step 420. If the enquiry at step 414 yieldsthe answer no, the software also proceeds to step 420 in which the valueN is incremented by 1.

Next, in step 422, the software prompts the physician to move thetreatment device 10 to facial zone 3, which is at the centre left of theface, and to begin treatment. A new start dynamic count value isgenerated and in step 424 this is stored in the memory 56 and isdisplayed at the corresponding map location of the facial map 62. Instep 426, the software enquires whether the start dynamic count value atthe third map location, which represents the third facial zone, is fouror more higher than the highest previous start dynamic count value forthe face. If yes, the software proceeds to step 428 and prompts thephysician to apply a treatment dose at this zone. In step 430, the dosecount value thus generated is stored in the memory 56 and is displayedon the facial map 62 at the third map location. The software nowproceeds to step 432. On the other hand, if the response to the enquiryat step 426 is no, the software proceeds directly to step 432 andenquires whether the last facial zone has been reached. If no, thesoftware increments the value N by 1 in step 434 and reverts to step422. If yes, the software proceeds to step 436 and applies a treatmentdose at the last facial zone. The dose count value thus generated isstored in the memory 56 and displayed at the corresponding map locationin step 438.

With reference to FIG. 16, the last facial zone is the one at the topright hand side of the face where, in the example given, the startdynamic count value is displayed as 38 and the dose count value isdisplayed as 53. This completes the sub routine of step 124 and thesoftware now proceeds to step 126. Here, the software scans the dosecount values for the facial zones stored in the memory 56 and selectsthe one with the highest value. The software then prompts the physicianin step 128 to move the treatment device 10 to the corresponding facialzone and apply a full treatment. The count value generated at the momentwhen dZ/dt becomes zero is stored in the memory 56 and is displayed onthe facial map 62 in step 130. Referring to the facial map 62 in FIG.16, the highest dose count value is seen to be at the top left hand sideof the face, being 58, and the full treatment is applied at thecorresponding facial zone and yields a full treatment count value 87.

The software now proceeds to step 132 and scanning the values in thememory 56 enquires whether the full treatment count value for the faceis higher than the full treatment count values for the back. If no, thetreatment is finished. If yes, the software proceeds to step 134 andprompts the physician to remain at this facial zone and apply an FMtreatment for a duration of two minutes. This FM treatment yields afurther count value, which in step 136 is stored in the memory 56 anddisplayed at the corresponding map location.

The treatment is now finished.

The above description of a treatment session with the aid of thetreatment maps 60 and 62 shown respectively in FIGS. 15 and 16 and theflowcharts shown in FIGS. 17 to 20 assumes that the software in the CPU42 is designed to undertake all the processing to evaluate which bodyzones should receive treatment doses and which body zones should receivefull treatment and is designed also to prompt the physician to move ineach case to the relevant body zone. It is, of course, also possible toemploy a simplified form of the software, in which the software simplyreads the treatment values and stores the relevant readings in thememory 56 and displays them on the treatment maps. In this case, thephysician firstly selects each new position for the treatment device 10by inspection of the treatment map, and secondly selects the relevantbody zones for receiving treatment doses and full treatment byinspection of the treatment map.

In a further application of the present invention, the treatment device10 may be employed as part of a treatment system in which the results ofeach treatment session may be transferred from the treatment device 10to a practitioner's PC and thence to a server database for holding fulldetails of a patient's history. Easy access to the server database maybe controlled by means of a smart card for accessing the patient'sdetails for each new treatment session, whether they are visiting theiroriginal practitioner or a different one. This treatment system is shownin FIGS. 21 to 24.

Referring to FIG. 21, the treatment system comprises the treatmentdevice 10 with its CPU 42, and a cradle 80 for receiving the treatmentdevice 10. The cradle 80 is connected to a practitioner's PC 82, forexample by way of a USB link 84, for communicating information betweenthe treatment device 10 and the PC 82. The cradle 80 may also contain acharger (not shown) for charging the battery 40 in the treatment device10. The practitioner's PC 82 has access to a server database 86 by wayof the Internet 88 or other communication mode. By these means, theresults of each treatment session stored in the memory 56 of thetreatment device 10 may be downloaded to the practitioner's PC 82 andthence to the server database 86. Correspondingly, the results of anyprevious treatment sessions may be accessed by the practitioner throughthe PC 82, and relevant information may be downloaded to the treatmentdevice 10 for reference in a new treatment session.

In order to control access to such information, and hence to ensure thatconfidentiality is maintained and that a patient's record can only beaccessed in association with the patient, the patient may carry a smartcard 90 bearing a security PIN. The cradle 80 is designed to receive thesmart card 90, and the CPU 42 in the treatment device 10 is designed tobe able to read the smart card 90 for accessing the relevant records onthe server database 86 by way of the PC 82. The events, which take placeduring the first and subsequent treatment sessions in this respect, areshown in FIGS. 22 and 23, and the software in the CPU 42 andcorresponding steps are shown in FIG. 24.

Referring initially to FIG. 22, in the first treatment session, thepatient fills in a registration form for the practitioner. Thepractitioner enters the data from the registration form into the PC 82as the patient record as event 1 in FIG. 22. The treatment device 10accesses the patient record as event 2 and using the information in thepatient record applies a unique patient ID to a blank card 90 insertedin the cradle 80 to create a new smart card. This is event 3 in FIG. 22.Subsequently, the practitioner administers a treatment session, theresults of which are recorded in the memory 56 of the CPU 42 aspreviously described. After the treatment session, as event 4 in FIG.22, the treatment device 10 is returned to the cradle 80, and then theresults of the treatment session are transferred from the treatmentdevice 10 to the PC 82 as event 5. Subsequently, both the patient recordon the PC 82 and the results of the treatment session are transferredfrom PC 82 to the server database 86 as event 6. The patient takes thesmart card 90 and departs.

In a subsequent treatment session, represented in FIG. 23, the sessioncommences with the patient inserting the imprinted smart card 90 intothe cradle 80 as event 1. The CPU 42 of the treatment device 10 readsthe unique patient ID from the smart card 90 as event 2 in FIG. 23, andtransfers the patient ID to the PC 82 as event 3. As event 4, the PC 82supplies the patient ID to the server database 86 and then during event5 retrieves the patient records from the server database 86. Thetreatment device 10 then retrieves any relevant information from the PC82 as event 6 for use during the treatment session. The treatment device10 records the results of the treatment session, following which thepractitioner replaces the treatment device 10 in the cradle 80 as event7. The results of the treatment session are now transferred as event 8from the treatment device 10 to the PC 82. Finally, as event 9, the fullpatient record with the results of the treatment session are transferredfrom the PC 82 to the server database 86, and the patient retrieves thesmart card 90 from the cradle 80.

The processing steps, which take place within the CPU 42 of thetreatment device 10 during these events, are shown in FIG. 24 and willnow be described.

At the start of a treatment session, whether this is the first or asubsequent treatment session, the practitioner places the treatmentdevice 10 in the cradle 80 in step 500. The software of the CPU 42interrogates the cradle 80 to discover whether a smart card is detected.This is step 502. If no, the software proceeds to step 504 and promptsthe practitioner to request the patient to enter a smart card. Thesoftware then reverts to step 502. On the other hand, if a smart card isdetected, the software proceeds to step 506 and interrogates the smartcard 90 to establish whether it carries a unique patient ID. If no, thesoftware proceeds to step 508 and prompts the PC 82 to create a new orselect an existing patient record. The treatment device 10 then requeststhe PC 82 to download the patient ID to the treatment device 10 by wayof the cradle 80 in step 510. The software reads the patient ID andstores this ID on the smart card 90 in step 512 and then proceeds tostep 514 and requests the patient to enter a new PIN number by way of akeypad (not shown) on the cradle 80.

The software then reverts to step 506 and enquires whether a smart card90 is detected in the cradle 80. If yes, the software proceeds to step516 and the treatment device 10 reads the patient ID from the smartcard, and then prompts the patient in step 518 to enter their PIN numbervia the keypad on the cradle 80. The software verifies the PIN numberthat has been input against the unique patient ID on the smart card instep 520. If the two match, the treatment device 10 requests the patienthistory from the PC 82 in step 522. The PC 82 retrieves the patienthistory from the server database 86 and supplies the relevantinformation to the treatment device 10. On the other hand, if the PINnumber and the patient ID do not match, the software terminates thetreatment in step 524.

Once the treatment device 10 has the necessary information, thepractitioner removes the device from the cradle 80 and performs atreatment session, during which the treatment results are stored in thememory 56 of the device in step 526. After the treatment session, thepractitioner replaces the treatment device 10 in the cradle 80, at whichpoint in step 528 the software detects the presence of the cradle 80 andproceeds to step 530. In step 530, the treatment device 10 enquireswhether the PC 82 is ready to receive a new treatment record. If yes,the treatment device 10 downloads the results of the treatment sessionto the PC 82 by way of the cradle 80 in step 532. Then, in step 534 thetreatment device 10 requests the PC to transmit the treatment record tothe server database 86. On the other hand, if the results of the enquiryof step 530 are no, for any reason, the treatment device 10 retains thetreatment results in its memory 56 and terminates the treatment sessionin step 536.

In the described embodiment, most of the processing is conducted withinthe CPU 42 of the handheld device 10. However, it will be appreciatedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention. For example, some of the processing can be shared with theCPU in the practitioner's PC 82 as also can some of the displayfeatures.

Other modifications are also possible. For example, the comparator 50for detecting feedback signals from the electrodes 32 may be replaced byalternative detection means. Instead of measuring the duration of thepulses output by the comparator for detecting the time between crossingsof the feedback waveform, detection means for measuring the peak valueof the feedback waveform or the area between the feedback waveform and athreshold line may be employed.

Other possible variants include the replacement of the audio indicator58 with a visual indicator and the replacement of the control buttons 38with different control input means.

The treatment device and method of the present invention have numeroussignificant advantages.

In particular, it has been found that the treatment device of thepresent invention as described above is capable of effectively treatinga wide variety of illness and disease, as well as other clinicalconditions. The device also has the advantages of being portable andeasy to use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and produce.

Further the provision of patient records for future referral is ofsignificant benefit in monitoring the progress and outcome of treatment.

1. A treatment device for applying electrical impulses to a living bodyvia the skin, for non-invasively treating a variety of clinicalconditions, comprising: a pair of electrodes for contact with the skin;a waveform generator for repeatedly generating an AC waveform forapplying electrical impulses through the electrodes to the skin; adetector for detecting the skin impedance responsive to the appliedelectrical impulses and for generating detection signals representingthe skin impedance; means responsive to the detector output signals formonitoring the responsivity of the skin; and indicator means activatedby the monitoring means for generating a first indication when apredetermined level of responsivity is reached and a second indicationwhen a pre-determined treatment has been administered, wherein: thedetector generates detector output signals in the form of pulses whoseduration represents the skin impedance; the monitoring means measuresthe duration t of each pulse; and the indicating means is arranged togenerate each indication when t satisfies a predetermined function of t.2. A treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising: meansresponsive to the detector output signals for producing output datarepresenting the responsivity of different zones of a pre-determinedarea of the body; a store for the output data; and means for selecting atreatment zone from amongst the different zones based on an evaluationof the output data to select the zone of greatest responsivity.
 3. Atreatment device according to claim 1, in which: the detector isarranged to receive a signal corresponding to the AC waveform influencedby changes in the skin impedance, and in which the indicating means isarranged to generate the first indication when:t₂=4.087t₁ ^(0.7131) where t₁ and t₂ represent initial and subsequenthalf wavelengths of a signal received by the detector.
 4. A treatmentdevice according to claim 1, in which: the indicating means is arrangedto generate the second indication when:dZ/dt=0 where Z is the skin impedance.
 5. A treatment device accordingto claim 1, in which the AC waveform is a decaying sinusoidal waveformhaving an initial amplitude V_(peak), a half wavelength t₁ and a decayt_(decay) and in which V_(peak), t₁ and t_(decay) can all be variablyset by the user.
 6. A treatment device according to claim 5, in whichthe repetition rate of the repeatedly generated AC waveform can bevariably set by the user.
 7. A treatment device according to claim 1, inwhich the detector comprises a comparator for comparing an output fromthe electrodes with a threshold level and for generating output pulseswhose duration is determined by the threshold level.
 8. A treatmentdevice according to claim 7, in which the duration of the output pulsesrepresents the skin impedance.
 9. A treatment device according to claim7, in which the monitoring means comprise means for measuring theduration of the pulses output by the comparator.
 10. A treatment deviceaccording to claim 1, in which the indicator means comprise at least oneaudio indicator.
 11. A treatment device according to claim 1, which isbattery powered.
 12. A treatment device according to claim 1, whereinalterations in the skin impedance influence the electrical impulsesapplied through the electrical electrodes to the skin.
 13. A method oftreating a living body non-invasively via the skin, comprising the stepsof: placing a pair of electrodes in contact with the skin; repeatedlygenerating an AC waveform to supply electrical impulses through theelectrodes to the skin; detecting the skin impedance responsive to theapplied electrical impulses and generating detection signalsrepresenting the skin impedance; monitoring the responsivity of theskin; and indicating firstly when a predetermined level of responsivityis reached and secondly when a predetermined treatment has beenadministered, wherein the detection signals are in the form of pulseswhose duration represents the skin impedance; the step of monitoringcomprises measuring the duration t of each pulse; and the step ofindicating comprises generating first and second indicationsrespectively when t satisfies a predetermined function of t.
 14. Amethod according to claim 13, wherein alterations in the skin impedanceinfluence the electrical impulses applied through the electricalelectrodes to the skin.
 15. A treatment device for applying electricalimpulses to a living body through the skin, for treating a variety ofclinical conditions, comprising: a pair of electrodes for contact withthe skin; a waveform generator for repeatedly generating an AC waveformfor applying electrical impulses through the electrodes to the skin; adetector for detecting changes in the skin impedance and for generatingdetection signals representing the skin impedance; means responsive tothe detector output signals for monitoring the responsivity of the skin;and indicator means activated by the monitoring means for generating afirst indication when a first predetermined level of responsivity isreached and a second indication when a predetermined treatment has beenadministered, wherein: the detector comprises a comparator for comparingan output from the electrodes with a threshold level and for generatingoutput pulses whose duration is determined by the threshold level, andthe monitoring means comprise means for measuring the duration of thepulses output by the comparator.
 16. A method of treating a living bodythrough the skin, comprising the steps of: placing a pair of electrodesin contact with the skin; repeatedly generating an AC waveform to supplyelectrical impulses through the electrodes to the skin; detectingchanges in skin impedance and generating detection signals representingthe skin impedance; monitoring the responsivity of the skin; andindicating firstly when a predetermined level of responsivity is reachedand secondly when a predetermined treatment has been administered,wherein: the step of detecting comprises comparing an output from theelectrodes with a threshold level and generating output pulses whoseduration is determined by the threshold level, and the step ofmonitoring comprises measuring the duration of the output pulses.